Important Update: COVID-19 (updated August 14, 2020)
GENERAL By-LAWS
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the resulting closures of branches and the need to self-isolate the following temporary changes to the General By-Laws (GBLs) have been approved by DEC on 20 Mar 20:
Article 129 – Fund Raising
Section 129 of the GBLs is rescinded in its entirely effective immediately and until further notice.
Article 308.d. - Complaint Hearing Timelines
Effective immediately, all current and new complaints will be held in abeyance and GBL 308.d is amended to remove the 45 day requirement. Read more
Update: DEC Decision, 12 Aug 20: The temporary measures will remain in place as DEC decided not to reinstate Article III proceedings and timelines. All current and new complaints and appeals will continue to be held in abeyance. Reinstatement of Article III proceedings will be reviewed again prior to the November 2020 DEC meeting.
Article 6 - Branch Elections
Branch elections are often held in the spring, with the new executive taking office in early summer. Branch closures have impacted the branch election process. As a result Branch elections and transitions to a new executive, and branch by-laws / regulations pertaining to branch elections, are suspended pending a return to normal branch operations.
Update: DEC Decision, 12 Aug 20: The authority for holding Branch elections is now delegated to Provincial Commands / International Zones effective immediately.
Article 919 - Dominion Convention Resolution Deadline
The current due date for receipt of Dominion Convention resolutions at Dominion Command is 3 May. This provides time for review by the respective DC Committee and for the resolution to be included in the Convention Reports and Resolutions book, which must be printed and mailed to all branches 6 weeks prior to convention (GBL 919.e). Resolutions received at DC after the 3 May deadline are considered as late resolutions (GBL 919.d); those of a routine nature will be returned to Provincial Commands and urgent resolutions will be reviewed and considered. With branch closures, this 3 May deadline is now unmanageable for those branches that intended to submit resolutions. As a result the deadline date for submission of Dominion Convention resolutions remains unchanged, with all resolutions received after that date considered as late resolutions. HOWEVER, all late resolutions will receive consideration at the pre-convention DEC meeting and none will be returned in advance of that meeting for being routine.
POPPY MANUAL
The Dominion Executive Council approved the following amendment to the Poppy Manual to allow for a one-time special use expenditure of Poppy Funds for branch Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the amount of $500 necessary for the protection of veterans. See below:
Authorized Special Use Expenditures403.ii.e: Relief of Disasters: (prior Provincial Command approval is required) 50 percent of the current balance, for donations for relief of disasters declared by the federal or provincial governments. Funds raised for this use must be allocated as per the direction for use of Poppy Funds outlined in this manual. Additionally this provision can include a one-time expenditure per event of up to $500 for branch public safety items necessary for the protection of our veterans (i.e. touchless hand sanitizing stations).